Official 2025 Chargers Discussion | 2025 Roster Build | Training Camp

[Bolt4Knob]

My initial, VERY early outlook for 2025 is one of...concern.

The IOL needs blown up. We need WRs. A legit TE. Two new DEs. At least one more corner. Is Cam Hart in legit danger of having to retire early because of THREE concussions as a rookie? So maybe two new DBs?

I feel like our list of needs is even longer than last year. Ugh. Yeah we have a ton of cap room but we still need to resign Slater and a few of our guys. I don't see any impressive guards or centers in free agency. So are we going to rely on a ton of rookies next year?

Next year feels like a typical sophomore slump kind of year, but it will give the rookies we will be relying on valuable experience. Might need to look to year 3 of Hortiz, by then he will have flushed out the last of the Staley/TT holdovers.

The good thing about Slater - he is already on teh books for $19m -- so yes they need to extend him but he is not at $0 on the cap - he is at $19m.

Trey Smith is a FA
Zach Martin - older and probably not going back to the Cowboys. Even at 35 - Zach Martin, if healthy, will be better than Pipkins. And I prefer to not sign a 35 year old Zach Martin but he is out there and has been linked to the Chargers
Kevin Zeitler at 34 - if he leaves the Lions - is probably better than Pipkins
Drew Dalman - Center - the Falcons have cap issues - maybe they can sign him. But again, the bar is low with Bozeman
Edge - you are correct. But right now they have $25m for Bosa - they can take that money and sign somebody else

I don't see it as a sophomore slump - I see it as year 2 of the build -

Som of these will be fixed in the draft - some in free agency

[Boltnut]

The problem with Perryman is the injury concern. Availability is a skill set. I like Denzel. And maybe as a third LB - behind Colson and Hanley for depth. But they need a more dependable starter. As a bakcup - Perryman, not a starter

i think the Chargers are going to have to use Free agency for Edge - or the draft. Maybe a pick in rounds 2-4

Like I said, injury is a concern with Perryman. But as a read/react run-stopper, he is miles ahead of Henly and Colston (both of whom I loved pre-draft). The injury concerns of Perryman probably keep his cost down. Call him depth... depth is a position we need @ILB. Nieman probably won't be back. I did like Shaq Quarterman coming out of college... maybe he develops into something. Do you have any insight into a good mid-round ILB this draft? I haven't really studied ILB this time around.

Quality edge in free agency is hard to find and often very expensive. For the money, Bud Dupree was a nice catch. But he was available because he's on the decline. Most quality edge just doesn't make it to free agency. When it does, you're paying through the nose for it. Definitely have to be searching for edge-depth this draft. There are some mid-round edge players I like.

[Bolt4Knob]

Like I said, injury is a concern with Perryman. But as a read/react run-stopper, he is miles ahead of Henly and Colston (both of whom I loved pre-draft). The injury concerns of Perryman probably keep his cost down. Call him depth... depth is a position we need @ILB. Nieman probably won't be back. I did like Shaq Quarterman coming out of college... maybe he develops into something. Do you have any insight into a good mid-round ILB this draft? I haven't really studied ILB this time around.

Quality edge in free agency is hard to find and often very expensive. For the money, Bud Dupree was a nice catch. But he was available because he's on the decline. Most quality edge just doesn't make it to free agency. When it does, you're paying through the nose for it. Definitely have to be searching for edge-depth this draft. There are some mid-round edge players I like.

Ravens seem to have excelled in mid-round Edge. I am good with using the draft - bringing back Mack, or maybe just going balls out fora Josh Sweat type

[electricgold]

Chargers need to retool going forward, #1 Get some weapons #2 Continue to build the OLINE #3 Get a workhorse RB!

Do that and we should be fine!

[Boltnut]

My initial, VERY early outlook for 2025 is one of...concern.

The IOL needs blown up. We need WRs. A legit TE. A RB or two. Two new DEs. At least one more corner. Is Cam Hart in legit danger of having to retire early because of THREE concussions as a rookie? So maybe two new DBs?

I feel like our list of needs is even longer than last year. Ugh. Yeah we have a ton of cap room but we still need to resign Slater and a few of our guys. I don't see any impressive guards or centers in free agency. So are we going to rely on a ton of rookies next year?

Next year feels like a typical sophomore slump kind of year, but it will give the rookies we will be relying on valuable experience. Might need to look to year 3 of Hortiz, by then he will have flushed out the last of the Staley/TT holdovers.

I do. RG Kevin Zeitler has taken the Lions OL from very-good to elite. His age probably keeps his cost down... but he's still playing at a high level. He's played in Roman's offense before (Ravens). @center, I really like James Daniels... watch his college tape @center. Daniels is ascending, but coming off an injury.
Daniels is coming off of an $8.8m contract and Zeitler is coming off of a $6m contract.

[Boltx]

The good thing about Slater - he is already on teh books for $19m -- so yes they need to extend him but he is not at $0 on the cap - he is at $19m.

Trey Smith is a FA
Zach Martin - older and probably not going back to the Cowboys. Even at 35 - Zach Martin, if healthy, will be better than Pipkins. And I prefer to not sign a 35 year old Zach Martin but he is out there and has been linked to the Chargers
Kevin Zeitler at 34 - if he leaves the Lions - is probably better than Pipkins
Drew Dalman - Center - the Falcons have cap issues - maybe they can sign him. But again, the bar is low with Bozeman
Edge - you are correct. But right now they have $25m for Bosa - they can take that money and sign somebody else

I don't see it as a sophomore slump - I see it as year 2 of the build -

Som of these will be fixed in the draft - some in free agency

Hortiz might need to get creative and look for trades.

Although I don't know if any team that's going to give up a good guard or center.

Will be relying on a lot of rookies next year, which isn't necessarily a bad thing for the future but I would temper expectations for next year in that case.

[Boltinloudguy]

Here’s my first crack at this coming offseason.

This offseason should be an exciting one but I’d be very surprised if they spend any huge money on one player. I don’t see a Tee Higgins or Trey Smith type signing.

Maybe a signing like WR Darius Slayton and a 3rd or 4th round draft pick like Jack Bech or an elite separator if there is one. QJ cannot be given the WR2, 3 or 4 role, he needs competition. Go into the season with McConkey, Slayton, Bech, QJ, Rice and DD. Or do you trade this years 3rd round pick and next years 2nd for DK Metcalf? You could go into the season with Metcalf, McConkey, Slayton, QJ, Rice and DD? That is a lot of speed with the top 3 WRs.

I think Zion will be back at LG next year but they will replace C and RG. Pip will be released. Now the question is do they sign both of them in free agency because the value is better than the IOL in the draft? I don’t think it is a coincidence that Jonathan Taylor had his best 3 games of the year once C Ryan Kelly was back in the lineup. If they can sign Kelly to a 2-3 year deal, I’m all in. Now who’s a RG they can sign for a year or 2, Zeitler, Teven Jenkins, Zack Martin. I would like to see Zeitler if he still wants to play. So from left to right next season a wish list would be Slater, Zion, Kelly, Zeitler, Alt.

Now on to TE. I think if Warren or Loveland are there in the 1st, you’re running to the podium. Go into the season with Warren/Loveland, Dissly, Fisk, Smartt. I think that’s a good start to a TE room.

RB room needs an overhaul. Cut Gus Edwards. I think they need to take an approach like the Lions. Bring in Najee Harris and draft TreyVeon Henderson in the 2nd. I think they could be a good 1-2 punch. You get younger and healthier behind a revamped Oline.

Release- Pip, Edwards, Bosa, Tito

Resign- Ford, Tart, Molden. Perryman, Jefferson

FA signings- WR Slayton, RB Najee Harris, RG Zeitler, C Kelly, Edge Josh Sweat, DT Bobby Brown

1 think is for sure, they will once again prioritize the Oline. How they do that via draft and or free agency is to be seen.

[richpjr]

Here’s my first crack at this coming offseason.
This offseason should be an exciting one but I’d be very surprised if they spend any huge money on one player. I don’t see a Tee Higgins or Trey Smith type signing.

I could see signing Smith (and would be ecstatic if they did) as Harbaugh is a trench guy. While I'd love to have Higgins, I think you may be right about them not willing to spend that much on him with the number of holes and lack of depth at other areas.

[dmac_bolt]

Like I said, injury is a concern with Perryman. But as a read/react run-stopper, he is miles ahead of Henly and Colston (both of whom I loved pre-draft). The injury concerns of Perryman probably keep his cost down. Call him depth... depth is a position we need @ILB. Nieman probably won't be back. I did like Shaq Quarterman coming out of college... maybe he develops into something. Do you have any insight into a good mid-round ILB this draft? I haven't really studied ILB this time around.

Quality edge in free agency is hard to find and often very expensive. For the money, Bud Dupree was a nice catch. But he was available because he's on the decline. Most quality edge just doesn't make it to free agency. When it does, you're paying through the nose for it. Definitely have to be searching for edge-depth this draft. There are some mid-round edge players I like.

i hope we don’t need to allocate another mid round draft pick to ILB, we’ve done it 2 years in a row, and we have a lot of other areas that need starters, vs drafting a backup ILB. I would draft DT instead mid-rounds. Colson had nagging injuries that kep him from developing and then suffered the ILB Confused Rookie Blues when he got on the field - that happens to a lot of ILB rookies, they don’t process at NFL speed and sophistication. I expect he arrives next year like Henley did this year. Fill out that group depth with cheap vet-min FAs. Perryman - idunno. He is solid but not spectacular, he’s actually weak in coverage. He becomes unavailable at bad times. That was his story and why we let him walk last time, I’m just kind of tired of hoping he’ll be there and then he’s not.

[wu-dai clan]

We'll see how far Lamar goes this year.

There are similarities between his and Herbert's plight...regular vs post seasons.

Hortiz knows Justin does not have what Lamar has in terms of surrounding talent.

[dmac_bolt]

I could see signing Smith (and would be ecstatic if they did) as Harbaugh is a trench guy. While I'd love to have Higgins, I think you may be right about them not willing to spend that much on him with the number of holes and lack of depth at other areas.

I could see a big play for Smith too. Higgins is a fricken REALLY GOOD WR, I don’t buy the coasting off Chase’s tails … I’ve seen him play. Concern there is availability, is it a concern? What I see in Cincy is Chase completely disappear when Higgins is out.

There are some mid-level FA WRs, don’t really get excited about any of them but they are all a lot better than anyone on our team besides Ladd. Chark turned out to be just a horrible bet.

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[wu-dai clan]

We'll see how far Lamar goes this year.

There are similarities between his and Herbert's plight...regular vs post season success.

Hortiz knows Justin does not have what Lamar has in terms of surrounding talent.